what foods are you using to increase your calories?

Melwith9
Melwith9 Posts: 17
in Health and Weight Loss
I have been stuck at 27 lbs lost for entirely to long..I put a lot of effort in with my workouts ( I get 1-2 hours of cardio in a day 5 days a week and have started weight training with my husband 2-3 times a week). I have struggled with eating enough..and I have gotten pretty good at getting closer to 1200 now but I am pretty sure that is what is causing my plateau.. I am burning 700+ calories a day and am not eating enough and my body is refusing to budge..and I still have another 60 lbs to go..all the posts I have read on upping calories make soooo much sense..however..pushing it to closer to 1700 (my TDEE) is proving harder than I expected. I am not hungry at all! Did anyone else struggle with this? I am looking for ideas on easy ways to increase my calories during the day.. I can't do protein shakes.. they make me sick..so that one is out the door for me..
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Replies

  • Asterie
    Asterie Posts: 159 Member
    I have nothing to add, but I'm having the same problem so I'm commenting to follow this thread!
  • trin8ty75
    trin8ty75 Posts: 60 Member
    Peanut butter
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    Peanut butter
    This, chocolate, or ice cream are my go to foods for bumping up calories.
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    Holy crap, you were struggling to make 1200 AND burning 700. Yes that is your problem. Good for you for recognizing it and trying to fix it.

    Adding full healthy fats is always a good choice. Think of things such as peanut butter, olive oil, avocados.
  • gemmaleigh1989
    gemmaleigh1989 Posts: 241 Member
    Protein shakes! Plus they're so delicious!
  • Melo1966
    Melo1966 Posts: 881 Member
    Dark chocolate covered almonds
  • horseplaypen
    horseplaypen Posts: 442 Member
    My boyfriend's 700-calorie breakfast: oatmeal made with cocoa, almond milk, maple syrup, almond butter, protein powder, unsweetened coconut, frozen berries, a banana, and crushed walnuts. :)

    He also does calorie 'snack packs' - beef jerky, walnuts, brazil nuts, almonds, dates, prunes, figs, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, dried currants, dried blueberries. Easily 600-700 calories in a small bowl.

    10% greek yogurt will get you there fast too.
  • underwater77
    underwater77 Posts: 331 Member
    Nuts or Trail Mix
    AVOCADOS

    ....M & Ms. Ha.
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    AVOOOOOOOOOOCAADOS. Delicious, and very high in calories and good fats.
  • dynamohum
    dynamohum Posts: 17 Member
    peanuts, good protein and high in calories, just carry around a snack container add some dried fruit and you should be fine, calculate out the size of container. I lift weights with my husband and while I want to lose 8 pounds my weight has increased but the inches are down. Weight exercise will burn fat but trim inches Make munching a habit. Goodluck, keep those calories up .
    Too much cardio , stagger wights one day and cardio another.
  • Visique
    Visique Posts: 23
    I agree!! Protein shakes with water. Increase your protein intake and your body will shed the fat.
  • jasmine_noel
    jasmine_noel Posts: 62 Member
    Fat's the most calorie dense macro you can get... go full-fat on your dairy, add a tablespoon of butter or olive oil here and there.
    (Although your protein is low in your diary - maybe bump protein without worrying so much about adding calories?)
  • valeriewxy
    valeriewxy Posts: 418 Member
    Peanut butter

    This! My newest addiction *___* so yummy!
    This, chocolate, or ice cream are my go to foods for bumping up calories.

    Chocolate and ice cream are good too ^_^ I always look forward to days when I workout majorly because I know I can have a small scoop of ice cream. Makes my day! :D
  • Sharkington
    Sharkington Posts: 485
    Do you like avocados? One avocado has about 300-350 calories. I eat half of one most days and it gives me a nice calorie bump for my dinner, while adding some good fat and other nutrients.
  • christina0089
    christina0089 Posts: 709 Member
    I had the same problem! So I have been using greek yogurt, nuts and nut butters also trail mix and whole grains like oatmeal for breakfast and brown rice with dinner. Once I upped my calories I lost 7 pounds in a week! I wa shocked! Guess my body was happy! lol Good luck! :):flowerforyou:
  • johnkernmusic
    johnkernmusic Posts: 91 Member
    Any kind of fats will help raise calories.
  • bevtyndall
    bevtyndall Posts: 72 Member
    bump
  • ellskiNZ
    ellskiNZ Posts: 32 Member
    I've been using baby cheeses, the babybel ones that come in red wax circles.
  • stongjos
    stongjos Posts: 63 Member
    If you're not hungry, maybe you could have a big glass of milk... You need it anyway...
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    I am a huge fan of nuts why not add an extra meal in as well? My cals have been very low latly because I am sick and cant taste anything I was sort of wondering if anyone had any advice about this?
  • nlehmann
    nlehmann Posts: 164 Member
    Said several times, but natural peanut butter and almonds
  • samanthajade124
    samanthajade124 Posts: 217 Member
    After your workouts eat a half a banana with a TBSP of peanut butter. It adds calories and helps burn more calories after you stop working out! :)
  • dandandee
    dandandee Posts: 301 Member
    Peanut butter

    YUP. I had like 4tbsp of peanut butter today :):)

    Avocados are good too!
  • Melwith9
    Melwith9 Posts: 17
    thank you for all the suggestions!.. I forget about nuts!! That would be something easy enough to grab on the go..and avocado's would be easy enough to add to my smoothies or salads..

    I wish I could do protein shakes and have tried several kinds.. but every time I do I end up feeling very sick.. something in them does not sit well with me.
  • froeschli
    froeschli Posts: 1,292 Member
    What ups my calories is Toblerone and sometimes alcohol.
    But you probably want to stick with something healthier ;-)
    You can make your own protein shakes with peanut butter and banana, etc.
    I just started making iced vanilla coffee protein shakes with 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, coffee, milk, and ice. If I add 2 scoops (as recommended), I find its too gooey.
    Another option are protein pancakes - mix protein powder with egg (whites) and some milk, fry by themselves or with strawberries - yum!
    Or look up soy flour brownies.
    Or or or...
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    Nuts, milk, veggies sautéed in butter, granola, boiled eggs, string cheese. I add nuts to my homemade blueberry muffins and I put nuts in with veggies and stir fries.

    I second dark chocolate covered walnuts or almonds. Oh yes, indeed.
  • Melwith9
    Melwith9 Posts: 17
    I wish there was a like button.. I keep searching for it..lol.. Thank you everyone.. I am adding stuff to my grocery list.. and I am off to eat a banana with some peanut butter (drool.. why didn't I think of that!!)
  • TheStephil
    TheStephil Posts: 858 Member
    Trail mix, peanut butter, ice cream, nuts, chocolate, protein shakes.
  • SteelySunshine
    SteelySunshine Posts: 1,092 Member
    I wish there was a like button.. I keep searching for it..lol.. Thank you everyone.. I am adding stuff to my grocery list.. and I am off to eat a banana with some peanut butter (drool.. why didn't I think of that!!)

    I wish there was a like button too. I have the same problem. But, I just started here a couple of weeks ago. So far no bad effects from not eating back calories, but I am eating close to 2000 a day, so that might be what is keeping the bad stuff from happening right now. I am going to closely monitor the situation though and if/when I hit a time where it becomes apparent I am not eating enough I will have the ideas I found here, so thanks for posting this.
  • angelcurry130
    angelcurry130 Posts: 265 Member
    i know you said you don't like protein shakes...have you tried using protein powder in other ways? proteinpow.com has hundreds of inventive uses...the girl makes CAKE...from protein powder!!! she's a WIZARD!!! o_0 i use vegetable protein or soy protein with some eggs, and water to make little flapjacks for sandwiches.

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